No Man's Sky, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has received a new game-scale update called Xeno Arena.

The update centers around the alien creatures found throughout the universe, which players can now raise as pets, train, and pit in battle. As the developers note, this marks the first time these creatures serve a dedicated gameplay purpose rather than acting as companions, as they now form players' squads and fight as their champions. The team drew inspiration from Pokémon, Palworld, and the pet battling system in World of Warcraft. Now, when discovering a rare robotic creature on a far-flung purple planet, players can check its abilities on the spot, adding a fresh layer of purpose to exploration.

Battles take place in arenas found in Space Stations and the Nexus, where players can compete against friends, strangers, and NPCs. Daily challenges are also available, offering rewards for those who rise to the top. In many ways, the update adds an entire multiplayer game within No Man's Sky.

The creatures themselves each carry unique elemental affinities tied to their species and shaped by the world they evolved in. A blob creature from a toxic planet, for instance, will have a very different set of abilities than a flying dinosaur born on a frozen moon.

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